Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-14
MAINE DisfATCHES.
McFAKLAND ON TRIAL.
One OF the Alleged Murderers OF War.
dens iiiil and Niles-Tbe story OF the
Tragedy by an Eye-N fitness.

MACHIAs, Jan. l3.
The case of James Nc cFarland, the Fletcher
Brook murderer, was opened this forenoon
at Machias. The county attorney has Judge
Rounds Of Calais 10 assist him. The defense
contests al every step and slow progress is
made. When answerirg 10 the indictment
and "What say you, guilty or not guilty"
the prisoner responded in Il firm voice mot
gully" His brother stoed by his side when
the indictmt Mt was read The prisoner ap.
peared aim and solf-controlled, A panel of
30 jurymen anawered to the call. The first
selected was Lorenzo ID. Allen Of Lubec.
sympathy with the poacLers or objection to
the enforcement of The game law was care
fully regarded In the selection. Twelve m. n
were finally secured The State objected to
one and the defense 10 one.
Witnesses for the State were called as fol
lows; Ira McRea'y, Thomas McReavy.
Selma Penneil, Mr.. Wilson, Howard 2.
Fletcher and MIR. Fields.
Ira McReavy's testimony was as follows ::
| live at Whl,neyvIlle; NV age IS l6; WAS at
township No sc. at Fletcher'o Brook, at ii 40
A. M, Nov. &, S6G; two men; first
saw them in the yard; | first came into the
yard. Objection to the story was here made
BY Hntcnins; allow, by the court.
The dos came out AID made two little
yelps; the men htlped me put the horse up
IN the cellar; Invent into the house with
them; | said "You have dog. The deer
wardens take dogs in the woods" Tney said
it was bird dog. | SAID They take bird
dogs; all kinds of dogs" They told me their
names We talked half an hour, when Niles
came up. stepped out and went back and
said that was a warden. ! then went out and
helped Niles put up his horse.
Ten minutes later Hill came up. Niles
and were in the cellar about 10 minutes ;
went in the house ard found Mcfarland and
Grave talking about the game laws; the talk
lasted about three quarters of an hour
| [Qucstion: Amy angry taik?' objected to
by the defense Answer, "No." Court ex
cudes both question and answer
The men asked Hill If he had been to din
per aud il he was going to stay all night. He
said yes, so Mcfarland said they would CO.
as they would be arguing on the deer laws ali
night. McFarlaud aud G. -avts went to pack
! it q and carried the stuff ont into the yard.
| Mcfarland put his deg IN the wagon and got
| n himself
He had his gun. Hill went out of the
house next and said he guessed they must
have the dog. Mcfarland took the dog be-
tween his kGees and said "You can't have
the dog" | came out ahead of Niles. Niles,
when passing through the house, pumped a
she'll in his rifle and said he was going to
shoot the dog,
Cross examiustion-Nilesh had Winches-
ter riff; pumping shell u cocks the gun.
believe IT was a repeater lie took ID shells.
have been to Fletcher Brook house since
the murder with Zina Pennell; took meas
urements; could tell where the bodies lay
by the blood on the ground; have told my
story be fore to Mr. Donworth and DR.. Hun
ter. Dr. Hunter has not called me
since.
RAYMOND c. Wilson deposed that he had
heard Graves say: "It any man tempted to
take or Kill my dog he viii have to shoot
me"
Howard Fletcher. who lives in No 8 town
ship, Hancock county, testified: Before ii
was light, on the morning after the murder,
two men with team came to his louise; he
knew one to be Calvin z. Graves; had a dog
with them Fletcher agreed TO deliver the
team to John NJ. Hale, in Ellsworth, and did
so. Had not then heard of the murder
heard of it the same afternoon. Graves
agreed with Hutchins to keep the dog
Graves said he going to hunt ducks he
then disappeared in the woods have not seen
him since.
Sheriff Fields of Ellsworth said he arrested
Mcfarland at his (NcFarlands) house on
the Sunday evening following the murder
on Monday. Was in the house with depu'
ty. Mrs. Mcfarland opened door to a
small room AMI Mcfarland came out, say
irg: Fields, surrender to YOU" Started
at once, and on Monday moruing committed
him to Machias Jail. Mcfarland made nc
| disclosures on the road and SAID nothing of
Graves; did not say that he knew where
Graves was gong; had a cold night on the
road to Machias. Mcfarland sometimes
walked up long hills to relieve the horse.
The defence mainly goes to show that Nc
Fsrland was not on accomphce. Inc case
will probably be given to the jury tp-mor-
, row.